Frommer's® Banff and Jasper National Parks Book

	List of Maps	viii
1	Welcome to Banff & Jasper National Parks	1
1	Banff National Park Today	3
2	The Best of Banff National Park	4
3	Jasper National Park Today	12
4	The Best of Jasper National Park	12
2	Planning Your Trip	20
1	Getting Started: Information & Reservations	20
	Online and On Your Way	21
2	When to Go	26
3	Money	28
4	Permits	28
	The Great Western Annual Pass	29
5	Getting There	30
6	Getting Around	33
	The Rental Advantage	33
7	Planning a Backcountry Trip	34
	Backpacking for Beginners: Leave No Trace	35
8	Tips for RVers	37
9	Package Tours, Adventure Outings & Educational Programs	38
10	Tips for Travelers with Disabilities	40
11	Tips for Travelers with Pets	41
12	Tips for Travelers with Children	41
	Hiking with Kids: Let the Discovery Begin!	43
13	Protecting Your Health & Safety	43
14	Protecting the Environment	44
	Wildlife Encounters: What to Do	46
3	Exploring Banff National Park	49
1	Essentials	52
	Numbers, Please	54
	Fast Facts: Banff National Park	56
2	Tips from Park Staff	58
	Top 10 Shops in Banff	60
3	The Highlights	61
	Banff: Where'd That Funny Name Come From?	61
	Arts in the National Park	62
4	How to See the Park in Several Days	64
	Banff Calendar of Events	65
5	What to See and Do in Banff Townsite	66
	The Banff Springs Hotel: Part of the Park's History	68
6	Driving Tours	73
	Banff on a Rainy Day	80
7	Organized Tours	83
4	Hikes & Other Outdoor Pursuits in Banff National Park	85
1	Day Hikes	85
	How Far (and Fast) Can I Really Go?	91
2	Exploring the Backcountry	101
3	Other Activities	106
	Paddling the Bow	109
4	Winter Sports & Activities	112
	Winter Driving	113
5	Where to Stay, Camp & Eat in Banff National Park	117
1	Lodging in Banff National Park	117
	Hostelling: Is It for You?	124
2	Frontcountry Camping in Banff National Park	128
	Regular versus Self-registering Campgrounds	129
3	Backcountry Camping & Lodging in Banff National Park	131
4	Where to Eat in Banff National Park	135
5	Banff After Dark	142
6	Exploring Jasper National Park	143
1	Essentials	146
	Fast Facts: Jasper National Park	150
2	Tips from Park Staff	152
	"The Buildings Should Reflect the Landscape"	153
3	The Highlights	154
4	How to See the Park in Several Days	155
	Jasper in the Rain	156
5	What to See & Do in Jasper Townsite	157
	Titanic Dreams	162
6	Driving Tours	162
	Mary Shaffer: Hunter of Peace	169
7	Organized Tours	170
7	Hikes & Other Outdoor Pursuits in Jasper National Park	172
1	Day Hikes	173
	The View from the Top of Old Fort Point	176
2	Exploring the Backcountry	184
3	Other Activities	188
	Biking Dos & Don'ts	189
4	Winter Sports & Activities	192
8	Where to Stay, Camp & Eat in Jasper National Park	195
1	Lodging in Jasper National Park	195
2	Frontcountry Camping in Jasper National Park	200
3	Backcountry Camping & Lodging in Jasper National Park	204
4	Where to Eat in Jasper National Park	205
5	Jasper After Dark	208
9	Gateways to Banff & Jasper National Parks	209
1	Canmore & Kananaskis Country	209
2	Radium Hot Springs, B.C. & Kootenay National Parks	220
3	Golden, B.C. & Yoho National Parks	226
4	Mount Robson Provincial Park	235
10	A Nature Guide to Banff & Jasper National Parks	237
1	The Geology	237
	Charting the Rockies East to West	239
2	The Life Zones	241
3	The Flora	242
4	The Fauna	250
	Sheepish Sheep that Jump	251
5	The Future	258
	Index	259
	General Index	259
	Accommodations Index	261
	Restaurant Index	262
	List of Maps
	The Canadian Rockies	24
	Highway Access to Banff & Jasper National Parks	32
	Banff National Park	50
	Banff Townsite	67
	Lake Louise Area	78
	Banff National Park Trailheads	88
	Jasper National Park	144
	Jasper Townsite	159
	Columbia Icefield Area	164
	Jasper National Park Trailheads	174